Saturday's letters

Published: Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 1:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, February 8, 2013 at 5:44 p.m.

Study the homeless

The funding for caseworkers is a good start for Sarasota's homeless subculture, but it needs to be expanded and focused.

One suggestion is to contact local colleges and get volunteers from students majoring in social studies. Professors could give class credit for the homeless project and students could assist the paid and part-time city caseworkers in working with the homeless. Our colleges have a moral duty to assist in this issue.

Second, a priority by these caseworkers and volunteer students should be to analyze the needs of the total homeless population. That is, how many are physically handicapped (in wheelchairs, walkers, etc.)? How many have drug-related problems? How many are handicapped by mental illness? How many are physically able, but out of work? By finding out the source or reason for the homelessness, better solutions can be identified.

Third, solutions to the various needs must then be discovered and facilitated. For example, if night-time bed facilities are available, can the $10 charge be waived for those homeless people who qualify? Other facilities need to be found to take care of those homeless who are suffering from specific problems such as drug addiction, mental illness and physical handicaps.

The main point is that one solution will not fit all those who are homeless. Better investigation and targeted solutions are needed. The caseworker approach is just a beginning. As a community, it is our moral duty to find specific help those in need.

Mary Kennedy Minter, Ed.D.

Parrish

Feature academic stars

While your readers are interested in the achievements of our area athletes featured in your paper and wish them well, you would do well to give as much front-page space to the area's academic stars.

I wonder if colleges and universities set aside nearly as much money for these deserving students as they do for future football and basketball players?

JoEllen DeMarco

Sarasota

Easy to feed the hungry

Recently, a letter writer wondered why it is legal for someone to ask for money at a major intersection, and was concerned that this is a danger.

I've been a year-round Sarasota resident for eight years. I've observed people in need standing on the grass or sidewalk, holding signs requesting "help" or "will work for food." I've never heard anyone calling out, or gesturing, or otherwise distracting drivers beyond just standing there on the grass or sidewalk, quietly holding a sign.

Isn't it far more distracting to a driver to see someone dressed like a chicken jumping up and down, encouraging drivers to turn into its restaurant parking lot? Or a crowd of people shaking their campaign signs at drivers?

When I'm stopped at a red light, waiting to turn onto a major road, it's never occurred to me that homeless individuals are asking for money. I give those individuals the packaged snacks I have in my car -- just as I give money to the firefighters and veterans who sometimes stand at busy intersections asking for donations -- and always they are grateful.

Margaret Castellana

Sarasota

Police deserve support

Our police department has been vilified by the American Civil Liberties Union and subjected to judicial repeal of ordinances, as well as news coverage by the Herald Tribune that has been detrimental and demoralizing to our officers.

There is greater concern for those who break the law than for those who obey the law and keep Sarasota safe, secure and clean. People do not want to be confronted by panhandlers, people camping out in public places, or drunk and disorderly persons.

Today, our officers' hands are tied, preventing them from doing a difficult and thankless job, one that can put their lives in danger. We need ordinances from our commissioners that can be fairly enforced by our officers. This is a subject that cannot wait.

It would be refreshing if our hometown newspaper would spend the time and effort to be more evenhanded and write about all the good work our police officers do.

Our new police chief must know from her past experience that maintaining the best possible morale of her officers is paramount for having an efficient and smoothly functioning department. Public perception of the department requires leadership that is not afraid to stand up for its personnel and the lawful pursuit of their mission.

Let us support those who support and protect us, and give them the tools with which to do their job.

J.P. Elden

Sarasota

Spend SCAT funds wisely

Regarding the $30,000 bus shelters: There's a bigger story behind the expensive shelters. Sarasota County Area Transit incurs the biggest chunk of the $30,000-per-shelter cost in areas where there are no sidewalks. But why on earth would we offer expensive bus service where there are no sidewalks?

It's pedestrians who use buses, but I know few people desperate enough to accept getting wet feet or run over on the way to a bus stop.

As it is, our transit resources are stretched too thin already. Shut down thinly used bus routes in suburban areas and focus resources on dense urban areas and thoroughfares such as the Tamiami Trail and Fruitville Road, to create a more user-friendly system.

Another big issue came up at the meeting in which shelters were discussed: The new SCAT director rang the alarm bells on the sorry state of 20 of SCAT's 50-plus buses (which has led to frequent breakdowns and a drop of passenger numbers, while transit use in other Florida cities is rising). The result of lack of funds for maintenance, this requires an expensive fix.

<p>Study the homeless</p><p>The funding for caseworkers is a good start for Sarasota's homeless subculture, but it needs to be expanded and focused.</p><p>One suggestion is to contact local colleges and get volunteers from students majoring in social studies. Professors could give class credit for the homeless project and students could assist the paid and part-time city caseworkers in working with the homeless. Our colleges have a moral duty to assist in this issue.</p><p>Second, a priority by these caseworkers and volunteer students should be to analyze the needs of the total homeless population. That is, how many are physically handicapped (in wheelchairs, walkers, etc.)? How many have drug-related problems? How many are handicapped by mental illness? How many are physically able, but out of work? By finding out the source or reason for the homelessness, better solutions can be identified.</p><p>Third, solutions to the various needs must then be discovered and facilitated. For example, if night-time bed facilities are available, can the $10 charge be waived for those homeless people who qualify? Other facilities need to be found to take care of those homeless who are suffering from specific problems such as drug addiction, mental illness and physical handicaps.</p><p>The main point is that one solution will not fit all those who are homeless. Better investigation and targeted solutions are needed. The caseworker approach is just a beginning. As a community, it is our moral duty to find specific help those in need.</p><p>Mary Kennedy Minter, Ed.D.</p><p>Parrish</p><p>Feature academic stars</p><p>While your readers are interested in the achievements of our area athletes featured in your paper and wish them well, you would do well to give as much front-page space to the area's academic stars.</p><p>I wonder if colleges and universities set aside nearly as much money for these deserving students as they do for future football and basketball players?</p><p>JoEllen DeMarco</p><p>Sarasota</p><p>Easy to feed the hungry</p><p>Recently, a letter writer wondered why it is legal for someone to ask for money at a major intersection, and was concerned that this is a danger.</p><p>I've been a year-round Sarasota resident for eight years. I've observed people in need standing on the grass or sidewalk, holding signs requesting "help" or "will work for food." I've never heard anyone calling out, or gesturing, or otherwise distracting drivers beyond just standing there on the grass or sidewalk, quietly holding a sign.</p><p>Isn't it far more distracting to a driver to see someone dressed like a chicken jumping up and down, encouraging drivers to turn into its restaurant parking lot? Or a crowd of people shaking their campaign signs at drivers?</p><p>When I'm stopped at a red light, waiting to turn onto a major road, it's never occurred to me that homeless individuals are asking for money. I give those individuals the packaged snacks I have in my car -- just as I give money to the firefighters and veterans who sometimes stand at busy intersections asking for donations -- and always they are grateful.</p><p>Margaret Castellana</p><p>Sarasota</p><p>Police deserve support</p><p>Our police department has been vilified by the American Civil Liberties Union and subjected to judicial repeal of ordinances, as well as news coverage by the Herald Tribune that has been detrimental and demoralizing to our officers.</p><p>There is greater concern for those who break the law than for those who obey the law and keep Sarasota safe, secure and clean. People do not want to be confronted by panhandlers, people camping out in public places, or drunk and disorderly persons.</p><p>Today, our officers' hands are tied, preventing them from doing a difficult and thankless job, one that can put their lives in danger. We need ordinances from our commissioners that can be fairly enforced by our officers. This is a subject that cannot wait.</p><p>It would be refreshing if our hometown newspaper would spend the time and effort to be more evenhanded and write about all the good work our police officers do.</p><p>Our new police chief must know from her past experience that maintaining the best possible morale of her officers is paramount for having an efficient and smoothly functioning department. Public perception of the department requires leadership that is not afraid to stand up for its personnel and the lawful pursuit of their mission.</p><p>Let us support those who support and protect us, and give them the tools with which to do their job.</p><p>J.P. Elden</p><p>Sarasota</p><p>Spend SCAT funds wisely</p><p>Regarding the $30,000 bus shelters: There's a bigger story behind the expensive shelters. Sarasota County Area Transit incurs the biggest chunk of the $30,000-per-shelter cost in areas where there are no sidewalks. But why on earth would we offer expensive bus service where there are no sidewalks?</p><p>It's pedestrians who use buses, but I know few people desperate enough to accept getting wet feet or run over on the way to a bus stop.</p><p>As it is, our transit resources are stretched too thin already. Shut down thinly used bus routes in suburban areas and focus resources on dense urban areas and thoroughfares such as the Tamiami Trail and Fruitville Road, to create a more user-friendly system.</p><p>Another big issue came up at the meeting in which shelters were discussed: The new SCAT director rang the alarm bells on the sorry state of 20 of SCAT's 50-plus buses (which has led to frequent breakdowns and a drop of passenger numbers, while transit use in other Florida cities is rising). The result of lack of funds for maintenance, this requires an expensive fix.</p><p>Let's cover our bases.</p><p>Johannes Werner</p><p>Sarasota</p>